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To Be Good at Your Job, Learn to Take Good Notes

Reblogger
Real Estate Agent with Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified #1 in Forest Land Mgmt

I could not agree more with Olga Simoncelli 's post, and as I keep emphasizing with my staff, "document everything", you never know when it may come in handy.

Original content by Olga Simoncelli CT, NY, FL

 To Be Good at Your Job, Learn to Take Good Notes

 

 

 

Take Good NotesIf you were not a note-taker in school, it's not too late to start. These days many lectures are recorded or available for viewing online on various educational platforms such as Blackboard. We didn't have that when I went to school, so one had to develop note-taking skills during lectures.

 

 

Good notes became such a valuable commodity for doing well on college tests that competitive pre-med undergrads at ivy league schools were known to hide their classmates' notes in an evil attempt to secure better grades/higher GPA's/easier entry to med school of choice.

 

 

In the business world, it's okay to take notes during meetings with clients. In fact, I would dare say you would garner respect from your audience for taking their words seriously enough to jot them down. You would also make them feel good that you find their thoughts noteworthy.

 

 

In addition to ensuring you remember what your clients are saying, you could be making [very brief] notations to yourself as to how you might want to respond later, without interrupting the speaker and making certain you don't forget what you wanted to say!

 

 

Don't be afraid to ask for clarifications to avoid misunderstandings. Soon after the meeting, summarize in an email, reiterating points covered during the encounter. Refer to your notes for accuracy. If any questions arise during the meeting that you could not answer at the time, research immediately and provide response or at least an update as to when you might have it, or where you are with it (e.g. "waiting for response from Town Hall; back to you as soon as hear back; hope tomorrow").

 

 

If any outstanding issues are to be resolved or plan of action to be formulated, outline it in your email. Ask clients to confirm your understanding by return. By doing that you accomplish three things:

 

 

1. Document what was discussed or agreed.

2. Get clients' written concurrence.

3. Establish a "to do" list for easy follow up.

 

 

And that will be just a small, but important part of your job. With good note-taking, you will be on a better footing to succeed. Good luck!

Note: Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net.


OLGA SIMONCELLI

Broker-Owner

203-482-2009 Cell

Your Real Estate Consultant and “green broker. 

Candlewood Lake Real Estate

 

olgasimoncelli@gmail.com

 

 

Comments (8)

John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Good Friday morning Bob Crane -

Thanks for re-sharing.  I'm a note taker and like you document everything.  It matters. 

Oct 30, 2015 01:02 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

GREAT advice, Bob Crane  .  I made reference to something very akin to it yesterday when I was having to repeat instructions and info to someone for what was probably the 6th or 7th time.  If only they took good notes!!

Gene  

Oct 30, 2015 04:31 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Good notes saved my butt several times when someone tries something stupid

Oct 30, 2015 06:26 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Bob, Olga is right.  I hate to admit this, but there have been many times I wished I had taken better notes.  It sure would have saved me time and eliminated many mistakes.

Oct 30, 2015 07:31 AM
Kristin Hamilton CA REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway California Realty - Beaumont, CA
(909) 557-6966- Specialize 55+ Communties Banning

Hi Bob Crane 

I totally agree and I tend to bring my ipad and type notes. I type fast so important items I try to take verbatum. Then I email my notes to myself onto my computer to print for the files. I still have a habit of putting items on little note pads and then I am looking for them a few days later. I am trying to stop using stickies and small pads.

Oct 30, 2015 11:24 AM
Randy Hilman REALTOR® Associate Broker
Randy Hilman Homes in partnership with Bean Group - Moultonborough, NH
Guide & Mentor to Home Buyers & Sellers

Notetaking impresses on the mind utterances and observation that occur in real time.  To iterate a thought in writing is akin to remembering it without fail.  Information received by word of mouth and written on paper gives shape to it in our memory banks, facilitating comprehension.  I am reminded of the careful notetaking politicians in government service.  Truly, they are artists of a sort, rendering events on paper for all time.  Who dares dispute the writer of well crafted notes years after the event for which they were taken?  Thank  you Bob Crane for sharing this insightful blog by Olga Simoncelli.

Oct 30, 2015 03:25 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is an excellent selection for a re-blog.

Have an outstanding weekend and a safe Halloween.

Oct 31, 2015 01:41 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Bob - taking notes is key.  I go to a fact finding with a pen and a legal pad and say do you mind if I take notes.  No one has ever said no.

Oct 31, 2015 04:24 AM